The Origin of Keeper Collars

Our founder, Sue, has always had a love for dogs. As a teenager, she showed her family dog in 4-H, but things really took off when she welcomed her first Belgian Malinois into her life.

That dog was Keeper. She came to Sue through Malinois Breed Rescue at just nine months old—her third home in less than a year. Determined that this would be her forever home, Sue named her I'm a Keeper—“Keeper” for short.

Keeper had some challenges to work through, like many rescue dogs do. One of them: she absolutely refused to have anything slipped over her head, so buckle-style collars were a must. Sue had her own challenge—she needed the control a prong collar offers, but found squeezing and adjusting the metal prongs became another real struggle. So, she got creative.

Sue designed her first custom collar just for Keeper: a hidden prong collar with prongs secured inside nylon webbing and a side-release buckle for easy on and off. It was functional, gentle, and didn’t compromise control.

People quickly took notice. At training centers, parks, and public outings, fellow dog lovers asked about Keeper’s collar and began requesting their own. And just like that, Keeper Collars™ was born—named in honor of the dog who started it all.

Over time, Sue continued refining her designs and adding thoughtful products to the collection. Today, we're still driven by that same spirit—listening, learning, and always looking for better ways to train, walk, and connect with our dogs.